Monthly Archives: June 2011

The Duke Men's Basketball staff will be hitting the recruiting trail starting July 6th and we'll know much more about new targets at that time. In our latest recruiting update we speak of Tony Parker, Rodney Purvis, Theo Pinson, Jabari Parker and other prospects, breaking down the latest skinny for our members. We also update you on the current team and tip you in on what to look for with concerns to the 2011-12 race for captain. Join BDN Premium for full site accss and be in the know. BDN Premium Duke Basketball Recruiting Update

This update is a part of the Blue Devil Nation Message Board which requires an active subscription to view.

QB Thomas Sirk committed to David Cutcliffe and the Blue Devils on Wednesday morning

Head Coach David Cutcliffe received a pleasant surprise on his family vacation this morning, as Baker County (FL) QB Thomas Sirk committed to the Blue Devils. At 6’6” and 212 pounds, Sirk impressed the Duke coaching staff at camp earlier this month with his arm and athleticism, earning himself a coveted Duke offer. Remarkably, the Blue Devils’ newest commitment has never played a full season at quarterback, but has been working with former Ole Miss and NFL QB David Morris this summer, and his recruitment has taken off. His recent highlight video has impressed coaches throughout the country, and Sirk was planning on camping at several ACC and SEC schools, but ultimately decided the opportunity at Duke was too good to pass up. The Duke coaching staff is thrilled to have a commitment from a player they believe will soon be leading the Blue Devils’ offense in Wallace Wade Stadium. After watching the development of Thad Lewis and Sean Renfree, Duke fans have high expectations for Coach Cut’s newest protégé. Welcome to Duke, Thomas!

BDN spoke with the new Blue Devil QB shortly after his commitment Wednesday.

BDN: How did you come to your decision to commit to Duke today?

Well, I have been talking with my family about it a lot, over the week since the camp, and I’ve been looking forward to going to some other camps and things like that, but I got to thinking about the opportunity I have to play at Duke, and the scholarship that I’m going to receive, the degree from Duke, is going to top everywhere. Duke’s program is rising, it’s a rising program and there’s a lot of great opportunities that are going to come for the program. They’re having a great recruiting class this year, they’ve got two guys committed out of my area in Jacksonville, Florida, and I just didn’t want to let this opportunity to pass me at quarterback, it’s the biggest offer I have so far.

BDN: How did you let the coaches know about your decision and what did they say to you?

I called Coach Cut today, he’s on vacation with his family right now. I called him and talked to him a little bit, I asked him some questions about other quarterback recruits, who they’ve offered and do they have anybody committed, and he told me the answers that I wanted to hear. We just talked about the opportunity that I have at Duke and where I stand as far as getting a chance to start after I redshirt. All those answers…he was talking about he wanted me to make my decision soon, and that’s when I said to him, I think I’m ready to make my decision and I want to verbally commit to Duke.

BDN: You mentioned plans to take some other visits; who were the other schools you were considering before you decided on Duke?

I was going to get up to Tennessee, Florida State, Florida, Georgia Tech, and I was going to go to those schools, but unfortunately the way it worked out, I decided to commit to Duke.

BDN: I’m sure those schools are sorry they weren’t able to get you in camp. What are your plans for the rest of your summer now that you’ve ended your recruitment?

Well, I just continue to work on my football team here in high school, obviously I got a lot off my shoulders committing to Duke, so I don’t have to worry about the recruiting process as much anymore, so I don’t really have to think about it as much. Now I can just think about me and my team and where we have to go. Do 7-on-7 camps with my team, continue to work out everyday over the summer and get ready for camp in August and get ready for our first game, so that’s where I stand now.

BDN: Best of luck with your preparation for this fall, and welcome to Duke!

Hailing from DeMatha, the highly successful Hyattsville, MD school which has produced Duke All-American Danny Ferry and freshman Quinn Cook, 6'7" 275 lb. Beejay Anya is able to create large shadows of his own. Five years after picking up a basketball, the slimmed down sophomore was arguably the best big man in Washington's competitive Washington Catholic Athletic Conference this year and earned a place on the WCAC's First-team All-Conference.

The gregarious big man, nicknamed "Big Baby," became a full-time starter this year for the Stags and immediately delivered, averaging more than a double-double with just over six blocks per game. The team, which got got off to a 10-0 start, including winning the Les Schwab Tournament in Oregon over Shabazz Muhammad's Bishop Gorman team 58-52, went through some rough patches, notably a loss to fifty point loss to St. Anthony's at the HoopHall Classic. Ultimately, however, Coach Mike Jones, who recently helped coach the USA U-16 team to a Gold Medal in Mexico at the FIBA Americas, was able to refocus his troops and the suburban D.C. Catholic school went on to defeat Gonzaga, which included Duke recruit Nate Britt, 51-48 for the program's third consecutive WCAC Title. The Stags followed that up by defeating Roosevelt 52-50 for their third consecutive D.C. City Title. In their biggest game, Anya rose to the occasion, scoring fourteen points, swatting six of the team's nine blocks, and grabbing another six rebounds.

This spring, playing up an age level, Anya has been the center for the Team Takeover 17s, Mike Gbinije's former AAU program. Immediately, the wide-body made his presence felt by nearly taking down the basket on a missed "tip dunk" at the Pittsburgh Jam Fest. He helped lead the Nike-affiliated team to the Pitt Jam Fest Championship and earned an All-Tournament selection. The rising junior has continued to be solid throughout providing interior toughness and rebounding for Team Takeover, which is the only program to have an unblemished record throughout Nike's EYBL season (15-0).

In early June, Beejay, born Chukwunonso Beejay Nduka-Anya and the son of a Nigerian immigrant, was among the twenty-seven young men helping the 2011-12 USA Developmental National Team prepare in Colorado for the FIBA Americas U16 Championship. Afterwards, he was invited to compete at the NBA Top 100 Camp in Charlottesville, VA.

There's quite a bit of diversity there. Will distance be a factor for you at all?

No, not really. I just want to go to a school that will fit my personnel…a school that I'll be at home at and a school that'll show me some love and things.

In terms of position, are they mostly recruiting you as a four?

Yeah, mostly as a four, but a four or five doesn't matter to me. I just think I'm a Jared Sullinger or DeJuan Blair kind of player. I'm not as tall as most big men in the NBA or something like that…so I just want to be like them.

What's your current size?

I'm about 6'8" and 275 pounds.

How much taller does your doctor project you to grow?

I don't know. I didn't even ask him.

Do you have a timeframe in mind for when you'd like to decide by?

Oh, no, I'm totally open right now. I have nothing in mind and just keeping it open.

Did you have a "dream school" when you were growing up or a favorite team?

Nah, but, when I was younger, I used to like to watch Syracuse and Texas I think because of how they used to use their big men, but now I like a lot of schools. Right now, I see a lot schools coming on TV and then they're showing me a lot of love..so I like that.

Do you watch both college and the NBA?

Oh, yeah, I watch all of them.

Who do you try to model your game after?

Right now, since I'm not as tall, Jared Sullinger…most definitely. I think he's one of the most dominant players in college basketball Next year, with him staying, they're going to be unbelievable .

I saw you play with DeMatha up at the HoopHall Classic against St. Anthony's (75-25 St. Anthony's), which had to be the low point for the year, but then you guys rebounded and won the City title for D.C. How would you asses your season?

Oh, yeah, well, it was an up and down season, but, you know, we came out well and won the championship and everything. I feel like it left things off on a good note, you know. We've won a lot of championships over the past few years.

Who are some coaches that have stood out to you so far? Any names stand out?

Oh, man, I can't remember all of the coaches names right now. There's been a lot that came out to DeMatha and watched us workout. You know how it is.

And do you have any visits planned?

Oh, no, I don't have anything set up right now.

Have you seen any schools?

Oh, yeah, me and my coach and James Robinson went up to VCU during Boo Williams to check them out. I saw the coaches and they seemed like really good guys.

You're close to Georgetown and Maryland too.

Oh, yeah, I mean I've visited Maryland, but it was nothing serious.

Are you a good student or a solid student?

Oh, yeah, I'm a very solid student. I take my schoolwork seriously.

That's good to hear. By the way, did you ever play football? I know DeMatha's turned out some good players and you look like a great D-line candidate.

Oh, no, I haven't, but they call me every day to ask me if I want to change my mind. (laughs) They're always wanting me to play on the line for them.Just out of curiosity, what was your reaction when Duke called and what do you know about the program?

I didn't take the call. My mother and my father did. My mom sent me a text saying that Duke had called. I like Duke. Duke is a storied program and I feel that it is one of those schools which has a great tradition and hopefully they'll recruit me more. If they recruit me a little bit harder, that are definitely one of the schools that will be in the running next year, my senior year.

Do you know Quinn at all? I know he was at your last game.

Oh, yeah, I know Quinn definitely. He's a good guy and he's gonna do big things.

What would you like the audience to know about you away from the court?

Oh, I'm a fun guy. I like to have fun away the court too. They call me "Big Baby" because they think I'm like him. [/private]

Coach Mike Krzyzewski addressed the media this afternoon at Duke University where he covered a lot of subjects. One of those was how the 2011-12 team would adjust. Check out his response via BDN Video.

BDN Premium has been very active on the recruiting trail of late and one of the kids we talked to was Robert Carter. The front court propsect made for a good interview and with that said we share a portion of our complete interview which appeared in our subscription section last week. Without firther ado, five questions with Robert Carter.

I’m from ACC Country. Are any of those schools involved with you?

Yeah, yeah, all of them. I’ve always liked the ACC and it’s one of the best conferences in college basketball. If you really want to get to the next level it’s a league you want to play in.

I suppose some feel Miami has the inside track since your Dad played there?

I like Miami and they have been on me for a long time. But we’ll see how things go and all.

What about Duke?

They’re good. I mean they’re one of the best schools in history and anytime they start recruiting you, you have to take a look at them, even … even if you don;t like them. I like them but …

Yeah, they’re sort of like the Yankees in that some like them or hate them.

Even if you do, you have to look into them because they’re Duke University and one for the best and it may be the best situation. I’m looking into them. I mean, Nate James, he called me and we talk about it and they said they were going to be out there watching me this spring.

They just added Jeff Capel to the staff …

Oh yeah. He’s been calling me. You see he was recruiting me at Oklahoma and when he came over to Duke he started or told them how much he liked me and they or he is now recruiting me for them too.